Back brace



Nov. 1, 1966 N. c. coNNELLY BACK BRACE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 3,1964 INVENTOR NICHOLAS C. COMLLY ATTORNEY -FIQ 3 Nov. 1', 1966 N. c.coNNELLY BACK BRACE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1964 -FIQ 4 INVENTORNICHOLAS C. COA/NELLY ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,282,264 BACKBRACE Nicholas C. Connelly, Eaton Rapids, Mich., assignor to S. H. Camp& Company, Jackson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Feb. 3, 1964,Ser. No. 341,915 6 Claims. (Cl. 128-78) The invention pertains to a bodybrace and particularly relates to a back brace having a substantiallyrigid frame encased within a removable cover.

Body braces for orthotic purposes often employ a rigid frame formaintaining the body in the desired position during treatment. The frameis usually strapped to or embraces the patients body Vso as to closelyconform thereto. The construction of such braces usually includespadding associated with the frame for purposes of comfort, It is theusual practice with padded body braces to permanently associate thepadding and padding covering with the rigid brace frame duringmanufacture of the brace, and such padding becomes an integral part ofthe brace during its period of use.

The permanent attachment of the brace padding, and such covering as maybe associated with the padding and the frame, makes it most difficult tomaintain the cover and padding in a clean and hygienic state, in thatthe rigid nature of the frame prevents cleaning other than by a handtechnique. Hand cleaning is only partially effective, at best, in thatmany of the folds, creases and crevices of the brace padding and coverare inaccessible to brushes and cleaning utensils.

Another disadvantage of body braces having permanently attached paddingsand covers arises during the fitting of the brace to the patient. Toprovide the most effective body bracing, the frame of the brace iscustom fitted to the particular configuration of the patient. Suchshaping is produced by bending the frame to produce the proper contours.Such a practice is very common in back braces and the like where theconfiguration of the patients spine and adjacent areas is of utmostimportance. Accurate shaping of conventional brace frames is dilicultdue to the fact that the permanently attached padding and coverassociated with the frame do not permit the technician to observe theconfiguration of the frame itself. Also, as bending of the frame musttake place through the cover and padding, there is a possibility ofdamaging the padding during forming of the frame.

It is an object of the invention to provide a body brace incorporating asubstantially rigid frame disposed within a padded cover wherein thecover may be easily removed from the frame for laundering andreplacement purposes. In the practice of the invention, several paddedcovers may be furnished with a common frame and, thus, the patient willbe able to easily maintain the brace in a hygienic and attractivecondition.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a body braceemploying a substantially rigid frame wherein the frame may beaccurately fitted to the patient, and yet padding and an attractive andutilitarian cover may be employed with the frame.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a back braceemploying a substantially rigid frame having a back portion and a pelvicband portion wherein slip-on padded covers are employed with the frameportions and may be easily mounted on and removed from the frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a back brace employing aslip-on padded cover wherein the cover may be affixed to the framewithout requiring attachment means to be dened on the frame itself.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a back brace havinga corset associated therewith wherein Patented Nov. 1, 1966 ice thecorset is affixed to the back brace and becomes a component thereofduring use.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a back brace havinga corset associated therewith wherein straps are affixed to the upperportion of the back brace and pass over the patients shoulders and arelooped through mounting means defined on a central portion of the backbrace, and therefrom extend to the lower front portion of the corset.This arrangement transmits abdominal support to the shoulders, whilemaintaining the brace structure in conformity with the body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a back brace having acorset associated therewith wherein the corset .components are attachedto the back brace by means of lacing to provide adjustment between thecorset and the back brace.

Another object of the invention is to provide a back brace having asubstantially rigid frame formed of a sheet material and including apair of substantially parallel rails interconnected by a crosspiece. Thecrosspiece lies within the plane of the rails, whereby no projections orhumps are formed which cause localized wear of the patients clothing.

These and other objects of the invention arising from the details andrelationships of the components of an embodiment thereof will beapparent from the following description and accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front and side of a b'ody brace inaccord with the invention as worn by the patient,

FIG. 2 is a back, elevational view of a body brace in accord with theinvention as mounted on a patient,

FIG. 3 is a detail, enlarged, elevational view of the lower portion ofthe body brace illustrating the frame back portion and pelvic bandportion covers in the unfastened condition,

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the conrponents of the bodybrace in accord with the invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan, cross-sectional view of the brace back portion paddingand cover, as taken along section V-V of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 6 is an elevational, cross-sectional View of the pelvicy bandportion padding and cover, as taken along section VI-VI of FIG. 2.

The concepts of the invention are illustrated and described inconjunction with a body brace of the type commonly known as a Taylorback brace. It is to be understood that the concepts of the inventionare not to be limited to this particular type of body brace, but may beemployed with other types of body braces, such as chair-back andGoldthwaite type braces, as would be within the scope of one skilled inthe art.

The basic component of the body brace, in accord with the invention, isthe frame 10 whose configuration is apparent in FIG. 4. The frame 10 ispreferably formed of a substantially rigid material such as 24 ST springaluminum plate and includes a back portion 12 and a pelvic band portion14. The back portion 12 includes an upper portion 16, a central portion18, and a lower portion 20. The back portion 12 is so formed that thebrace back portion comprises a pair of substantially parallel spacedrails 22 interconnected by an integral crossbar 24. The rails 22 includeinner lateral side edges 26, and as the crossbar 24 is formed of thesame material as the rails, the crossbar, in effect, interconnects theinner side edges 26 of the rails 22 and lies within the plane of therails. The side 28 of the rails and crossbarvwhich will be disposedadjacent the wearer is designated the front side, and the opposite side30 of the back portion components is henceforth designated the backside.

The pelvic band portion 14 is of a substantially arcuate configurationand includes outer arcuate portions 32 and 34 and a central portion 36.The central portion 36 is connected to the lower ends of the rails 22 byrivets 3S or similar fastening means.

The frame is bendable and is fitted to the patient by the technician. Asno covering or padding is associated with the frame during the fitting,the technician can very accurately bend and shape both the back portionand the pelvic band portion as desired and observe and measure the framedirectly.

The frame 10 is encased within padded slip-on covers. The covers includepockets defined therein for receiving the frame, and means are providedon the covers for maintaining the frame within the pockets, as will bedescribed.

The back portion cover is best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, andincludes a pair of fabric layers 42 and 44, FIG. 5, sewn together attheir lateral edges through a binding 46. A padding material 48, such asfoam rubber or foam polyurethane, is interposed between the fabriclayers, and is maintained between the layers by the seam interconnectingthe layers. It will, therefore, be appreciated that a pocket 50 isdefined between the fabric layers 42 and 44, and this pocket is open atits lower end, as will be apparent from FIG. 3, wherein edge 52indicates the lower edge of the rear fabric 44, and he inner fabric 42extends substantially beyond the edge 52 to define a flap 54.

The upper portion of the cover 40 is bifurcated to conform to theconfiguration of the upper portion of the frame 10, as will be apparentfrom FIG. 2, and shoulder straps 56 have their upper ends attached tothe ends of the bifurcated cover portions.

Fastening means are associated with the inside of the fabric flap 54,FIG. 3. In the preferred embodiment such fastening means are of the typecommercially known as Velcro and comprise a Velcro loop mat 58 sewed tothe fabric 42 so that the loops of the mat may coact with the hooksdefined on the Velcro hook strip 60 sewed to the fabric 44 upon the fiap54 being folded back to enclose the pocket 50. Eyes 61 are attached inthe back portion cover adjacent the lateral edges thereof, as will beapparent from FIGS. 2 and 3.

A right corset portion 62 and a left corset portion 64 are attached tothe back portion cover 40. The corset portions are preferably formed ofa nonelastic material having elastic inserts 66 sewed therein adjacentthe lateral upper and lower central regions thereof. The rear edges ofthe corset portions 62 and 64 are defined by edges 68 and 70,respectively, FIG. 2, adjacent to which eyes 72 are defined wherebylacing 74 may adjustably attach these edges to the brace back portioncover 40. Flaps 76 and 78, FIG. 4, are sewed to the corset portions toprovide a continuity to the corset portions with respect to the corsetcircumferential configuration. The right corset portion 62 is alsoprovided with a tongue 80 adapted to prevent contact of the adjustablebuckles with the wearers abdomen. Adjustable buckles 82 and straps 84are mounted on the front portions of the corset portions whereby thecorset portions may be interconnected and adjusted to provide thedesired support. Garters 86 may be sewed to the corset portions, ifdesired.

The straps 56 are intended to pass over the shoulders and under theunderarms of the wearer, as will be ap parent from FIGS. 1 and 2. Rings88 are attached to the frame back portion cover fabric 44 by means of areinforcement 90, and the straps 56 pass through the rings and thenextend on a like side of the wearer to the lower front region of thecorset portions, as will be apparent from FIG. 1. Adjustable bucklemeans 92 attach the straps to the corset portions. This constructionpermits the shoulders to contribute to the support of the abdomen aswell as maintain the frame back portion in intimate engagement with thepatients back.

The pelvic band portion 14 is also provided with padded covers havingPOkGtS .defined therein whereby the pelvic band portions may be insertedtherein. As the pelvic band covers for each pelvic band portion aresubstantially identical, the right cover 94 will be described and likecomponents on the left cover 94 are indicated by primes. The pelvic bandportion covers 94 and 94 each include an inner fabric 96 and an outerfabric 98, FIG. 6. A padding material 100, such as sponge rubber or foampolyurethane, is sandwiched between the fabrics 96 and 98, and the coveris sewed together along its lateral edges through a binding 102. Apocket 104 is defined between the outer fabric 98 and the padding 100,and the inner fabric 96 terminates at edge 106, FIG. 4, a distanceconsiderably shorter than the terminating edge 108 of the outer fabric98 defining a flap 110 and 110. Thus, the entrance to the pocket 104will be dened adjacent the pocket edge 106. The fiaps 110 and 110 areeach provided with a snap fastener element 112 adapted to interconnectto maintain the pelvic portion covers 94 and 94 on the associated framepelvic portions 32 and 34. Straps 114 are sewed to the ends of thecovers and include adjustable buckle means 116 whereby the straps may bepassed about the wearers body and drawn tight to maintain the pelvicband portions in firm engagement with the lateral portions of thepatients body.

To assemble the body brace in accord with the invention, it is onlynecessary to insert the frame back portion 12 into the pocket 50 definedin the back portion cover 40. Insertion of the frame back portion intothe pocket continues until the upper edge 118 of the pelvic band centralportion 36 engages the edge 52 whereupon the frame will be locatedwithin the cover 40, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. The covers 94and 94 are then inserted on pelvic band portions 32 and 34',respectively, by slipping the pelvic band portions into the pockets 104of the covers. The covers are of such length that upon the end of thepockets 104 being engaged by the end' of the pelvic portions, the flaps110 and 110 may be folded into alignment with the pelvic band portion 36and the snap fastener elements 112 connected. Thereupon, the fiap 54 isfolded under the contral portion 36 of the pelvic band portion and upover the flaps 110 and 110' whereby the mat 58 may connect with thestrip 60 to produce the relationship shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, it willbe apparent that by the use of the fiaps 54, 110 and 110', and theirassociated fastening means, the covers 40, 94 and 94 may be firmlymounted on the frame, yet may be quickly disassembled therefrom. As themeans for maintaining the covers on the frame are all defined on thecovers themselves, fastening means need not be defined on the frame.

The padding 48 within the back portion cover 40 eX- tends to a pointsubstantially even with the bottom edge 120 of the pelvic band portion,FIG. 3. Thus, the central portion of the pelvic band which is notencased within any pocket will be padded against contact with thewearer. The adjustabililty provided by the lacing 74 permits the bodybrace to be properly fitted to the patient whereby the corset portionsmay be most effectively attached to the back portion cover and upon thecovers 40, 94 and 94v being soiled, the covers are removed from theframe and may be laundered in a conventional manner.

It is appreciated that modifications to the invention may be apparent tothose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopethereof, and it is intended that the invention be defined only by thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A body brace comprising, in combination (a) fieXible frame-coveringmeans of an inverted T-shape configuration including a back-engagingportion having an upper end portion and longitudinally disposed lateralsides and a pelvic-engaging portion transversely disposed to saidback-engaging portion having ends, said covering means being formed offlexible interconnected layers defining a frame-receiving pocket,

(b) a frame including a back portion and a pelvic band portion receivedwithin said covering means pocket,

(c) closure means defined on said covering means permitting said frameto be removed from said covering means pocket,

(d) right and left corset portions, each of said corset portions havinga rear portion and a front portion, one of said corset portions beingaffixed at its rear portion to one of said covering means lateral sides,and the other of said corset portions being afiixed at its rear portionto the other of said covering means lateral sides,

(e) fastening means mounted on said corset portions front portionsadapted to interconnect said front portions,

(f) a right shoulder strap :and a left shoulder strap, said straps eachhaving first yand second end portions, said shoulder straps irst endportions being afiixed to said covering meansy upper end portion,

(g) means slidingly connecting said straps to said covering means Ibackengaging portion, said second end portion of said right shoulder strapbeing aflxable to one of said corset portions and said second endportion of said left shoulder strap being aflixable to the other of saidcorset por-tions, and

(h) cooperating means aixing said straps second end portions to theassociated corset portion.

2. In a body brace asin claim 1 wherein (a) said covering means upperend portion is bifurcated dening a right end and a left end, said rightshoulder strap first end portion being aiiixed to said right end andsaid left shoulder strap first end portion being affixed to said leftend.

3. In a body brace as in claim 1,

(a) strap means adapted to interconnect the said ends of said coveringmeans pelvic-engaging portion.

4. A body brace comprising, in combination (a) exible frame-coveringmeans of an inverted T- shape conguration including a back-engagingportion having an upper end portion and longitudinally disposed latersides and a pelvic-engaging portion transversely disposed to saidback-engaging portion having ends, said covering means being formed ofexible interconnected layers defining a frame-receiving pocket,

(b) a frame including a back portion and a pelvic band lportion receivedWithin said covering means pocket,

(c) closure means defined on said covering means permitting said frameto be removed from said covering means pocket,

(d) right and left corset portions, each of said corset portions havinga rear portion and -a front portion,

one of said corset portions being afiixed at its rear portion to one ofsaid covering means lateral sides, and the other of said corset'portions being affixed at its rear portion to the other of saidcovering means lateral sides,

(e) fastening means mounted on said corset portions front portionsadapted to interconnect said front portions,

(f) a right shoulder strap and a left shoulder strap, said straps eachhaving first and second end portions, said shoulder straps first endportions being aixed to said covering means upper end portion,

(g) means slidingly connecting said straps to said covering means backengaging portion, said second end portion fof said right shoulder strapbeing atiixable to said right corset portion and said second end portionof said left shoulder strap being affixable to said left corset portion,and

(h) cooperating means raflixing said straps second end portions lto theassociated `corset portion.

5. In a body brace as in-claim 4 wherein (a) said covering means upperend portion is bifurcated defining a right end and a left end, saidright Ashoulder strap first end portion being -afiixed to said right endand said left shoulder strap first end portion being affixed to saidleft end.

6. In a body brace as in claim 4,

(a) strap means adapted to interconnect the said ends of said coveringmeans pelvicengaging portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 266,335 10/1882Woodard 128-567 317,473 4/1885 Strouse 12S-520 367,113 7/1887 Nichols12S-570 714,124 11/1902 Adams 12S-78 1,137,541 4/1915 Schweinburg12S-520 1,993,671 3/1935 Kahn 12S-533 2,219,475 10/ 1940 Flaherty 128-782,586,658 2/1952 Hormann 12S-78 2,730,096 1/ 1956 Pease 2-44 FOREIGNPATENTS 995,063 11/1951 France.

1,059,835 3/1954 France.

OTHER REFERENCESv Body Brace Advertisement (upper left hand corner) byTruform in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, for September 1963,vol. -A, No. 6, page 11.

Taylor Brace disclosure on pages 213 and 214 of the OrthopaedicAppliances Atlas, vol. 1, 1952.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

J. W. HINEY, JR., Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,282,264 November l, 1966 Nicholas C. Connelly Column 5, line 44, for"later" read lateral Signed and sealed this 5th day of September 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. A BODY BRACE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION (A) FLEXIBLE FRAME-COVERINGMEANS OF AN INVERTED T-SHAPE CONFIGURATION INCLUDING A BACK-ENGAGINGPORTION HAVING AN UPPER END PORTION AND LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED LATERALSIDES AND A PELVIC-ENGAGING PORTION TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED TO SAIDBACK-ENGAGING PORTION HAVING ENDS, SAID COVERING MEANS BEING FORMED OFFLEXIBLE INTERCONNECTED LAYERS DEFINING A FRAME-RECEIVING POCKET, (B) AFRAME INCLUDING A BACK PORTION AND A PELVIC BAND PORTION RECEIVED WITHINSAID COVERING MEANS POCKET, (C) CLOSURE MEANS DEFINED ON SAID COVERINGMEANS PERMITTING SAID FRAME TO BE REMOVED FROM SAID COVERING MEANSPOCKET, (D) RIGHT AND LEFT CORSET PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID CORSET PORTIONSHAVING A REAR PORTION AND A FRONT PORTION, ONE OF SAID CORSET PORTIONSBEING AFFIXED AT ITS REAR PORTION TO ONE OF SAID COVERING MEANS LATERALSIDES, AND THE OTHER OF SAID CORSET PORTIONS BEING AFFIXED AT ITS REARPORTION TO THE OTHER OF SAID COVERING MEANS LATERAL SIDES, (E) FASTENINGMEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CORSET PORTIONS FRONT PORTIONS ADAPTED TOINTERCONNECT SAID FRONT PORTIONS,